The Australian Flag - FAQ

Commonly asked questions:
  1. Was it difficult to create the Sunburnt Flag design?
  2. Why does Australia not have a new flag that includes indigenous Australia?
  3. Do you like the current Australian flag?
  4. When did the current flag become Australia's official flag?
  5. What happens to the copyright if the Australian people want to adopt this design?
  6. Why not replace the Union Jack with Aboriginal flag on the existing Australian flag?
  7. Is this a Reconciliation Flag?
  8. What about the Aboriginal Dreamtime?
  9. Why is there no black on the Sunburnt Flag?
  10. Is the blood of the Aboriginals included in the elements of the Sunburnt Flag?
  11. Why is there no inclusion of the Green & Gold Australian sporting colours of the wattle?
  12. Do you think Australia Day should be changed?
  13. When would you like to see Australia adopt a new flag?
  14. Why do you think that the Ausflag competitions did not find a stunning new design to truly define Australia?
  15. What other good designs are avaliable?
USEFUL REFERENCES
STORE INFORMATION
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PRIVACY STATEMENT
Some of the Questions that are asked - also see our 'Inspiration' page -
  1. Was it difficult to create the Sunburnt Flag design?
    It was as simple as asking the current flags how they would join in partnership. Inspired by Cathy Freeman I found the design was inherent in the existing flags and the Anzac Spirit of Mateship. How could Two Flags become One?

  2. Why does Australia not have a new flag that includes Indigenous Australia?
    Surveys show that nearly 80% of Australians now want a unique symbol of our identity honouring ALL of us including indigenous and migrant Australians – in the same way Canada adopted the maple leaf in 1965 (the Maple Leaf design had been around since 1919). Canada is still a Constitutional Monarchy. I believe it is time we became more than a British colony with the place of honour (‘Canton’) occupied by the flag of another country. Also I believe it is time that we had a national symbol distinct from our neighbours New Zealand whose Blue British Ensign with the red Southern Cross is often mistaken for our flag. This has happened at International Sporting Events and the classic misidentification was the initial use of the New Zealand flag on the web site of the Australian Monarchists saying:- “Protect this flag”.

  3. Do you like the current Australian flag?
    I love the design but it fails to express my love for the individual essence of our country.
    Indeed it fails to show respect for indigenous Australia and the contribution of non British migrants to the richness of the sunburnt country. It is a symbol of dispossession to many of the people of our original nation and perpetuates elements of the White Australia policy and colonial Australia. In the 1901 Flag Competition the first priority for designs was - "Loyalty to the Empire". We still have the flag of Great Britain in the Canton (Place of Honour) in our national symbol. Even Britain is now the United Kingdom. Are we nothing more than a colony?? I believe we are so much more - the only island continent in the world. A young nation with the wisdom of an ancient land and an ancient culture - that has given birth to the unique Anzac Spirit.

  4. When did the current flag become Australia's official flag?
    Although the design originated from the 1901 competition run the government plus a newspaper and co-sponsored by a tobacco company, the Union Jack was our national flag until the Flags Act of 1953 and was formally adopted in 1954. (See Australian Flag History - Inspiration page).

  5. What happens to the copyright of this design?
    The copyright of the Sunburnt Flag has been dedicated to the People of Australia on ANZAC Day 25th April 2010 at no cost. If any Aussie wishes to produce products we ask that 10% GSC (Good Sport Contribution) is added to the sale price and contributed to an Australian Charity or sent to the Sunburnt Flag Thank You Fund. It was initially necessary to establish copyright and trademarks to protect the design until dedication, to prevent the problems experienced with the Aboriginal Flag and Ausflag design competitions. 70% of the profits will go to charitable undertakings on an ongoing basis once launch and legal costs are met. A further 20% is going to say thank you to those who have helped me with my endeavours.

  6. Why not replace the Union Jack with the Aboriginal flag on the existing Australian flag?
    a) Firstly the Aboriginal flag identifies the Aboriginal people and is its own identity. You would be replacing the flag of one nation in the place of honour (canton) for that of another nation.
    Our national identity needs to honour all of us equally in all cases. Respect for our Kanyini - Connectedness.
    b) The Aboriginal flag is the only officially recognised national flag that is subject to copyright of one individual (Harold Thomas 1971) and not owned by the people it represents. Use of the flag in another design or a derivative of that design is a breach of copyright law. Only one firm currently has an official copyright license to produce the Aboriginal flag. I would be in favour of the Australian government acquiring the copyright from Harold Thomas on suitable commercial terms to remove this anomaly in an official national flag. Harold Thomas has advised that a new Australian flag design needs to be a simple symbol and does not need to include specific parts of the Aboriginal flag. There is strong support for the foundation of a new flag to include the red earth.

  7. Is this a Reconciliation Flag?
    Very much so, starting with a partnership joining 2 elements of Nature from both the Australian and Aboriginal flags. This revealed so many important Aussie symbols including the Anzacs, Torres Strait Islanders, Surf Life Savers, and an expression of our Love for a Sunburnt Country - thus the Sunburnt Flag. Kanyini - Connectedness.

  8. What about the Aboriginal Dreamtime?
    Some Aboriginal elders have described the Sunburnt Flag as the "Dreamtime Flag " - with the 'Big Spirit' , the 'Giver of Life' and the 'Spirit of the Land'. We therefore have a symbol the ancient wisdom as the primary symbol of our nation.

  9. Why is there no black on the Sunburnt Flag?
    This is a valid question sometimes asked by indigenous and non-indigenous people alike.
    The Sunburnt Flag is a simple celebration of four elements of Nature in equal Partnership defining “ Place not Race ” .
    Only the " Place " part of each current national flag is included - rather than the " Race " halves of the flag.
    In many regards we currently have racist flags - defining White and Black Australia. Where is the Respect and Partnership?
    It is about the soul of our shared home rather than about skin colour which is very much a part of the current separate national flags.
    In many ways this is a wholly Indigenous Flag - with the " Big Spirit " of the Dreamtime (in the Southern Cross) as the Creator Spirit shining over the sun as the " Giver of Life " in the Heart of the flag, with the " Spirit of the Land " in the red soil.
    Additionally any inclusion of black constitutes a breach of copyright of the Aboriginal Flag, which is exclusively the flag of the Aboriginal Nation.

  10. Is the blood of the Aboriginals included in the elements of the Sunburnt Flag?
    Anyone is welcome to find symbols that are meaningful to them in the Sunburnt Flag. In the spirit of partnership I have chosen two elements from each part of the flag - Australian, Aboriginal, Anzac and Torres Strait Island, Surf Life Saving, the Red Centre - to represent our shared future and our shared heritage. The Aboriginal blood is for most people is included within the Aboriginal Flag itself, although this was not part of Harold Thomas' original concept. I originally questioned whether it as a celebration of true partnership to include indigenous blood spilt by white Australia as part of our love for Australia and a vision for our future. However it is a reality of our shared history on our journey to nationhood and needs to be acknowledged. The Anzac blood includes the spirit of all Australians who served their country - as mates together with our New Zealand comrades who were slaughtered commencing 25th April 1915 under the command of "The Mother Country". England is not the Mother of the Spirit of this Ancient Land. It dispossed the original inhabitants and removed them from their families. It is time to show respect for all of us.

  11. Why is there no inclusion of the Green & Gold Australian sporting colours of the wattle?
    The Sunburnt Flag is a simple design – the Sunburnt Country as a flag honouring elements of our heritage in the existing flags. A Symbol of Hope & Partnership. There is a Sporting Colours version of the Sunburnt Flag. We also have the Boxing Kangaroo owned by the Australian Olympic Committee. (See versions including Military, State and the Sporting Sunburnt Flag in "Home & Inspiration" Pages). We also now have the Green & Gold Boxing Kangaroo for our sporting flag owned by the Australian Olympic Committee.

  12. Do you think Australia Day should be changed?
    No - I think with a national flag that shows love and respect for ALL Australians that Australia Day would become a symbol of the joining of ancient Aboriginal culture and new arrivals coming to share their home and build the modern Australia that we share today. I trust the Sunburnt Flag will became a symbol of partnership, respect for our heritage and hope for the future, in the same way the rising sun heralds the hope inherent in a new day…… I think ANZAC Day is the day that celebrates Respect and Inspiration for the Spirit of our Nation - our connectedness, separate to the founding of penal colony / invasion. That is why a flag that combines both the ancient and modern heritage is appropriate for both days. It becomes the joining of Australia Day and ANZAC Day under one flag.

  13. When would you like to see Australia adopt a new flag?
    Maybe 111 years after Federation Day – 2012, or no later than 100 years after Gallipoli in 2015.

  14. Why do you think that the Ausflag competitions did not find a stunning new design to truly define Australia?
    Probably because many of the best designs were not entered as the copyright had to be given to Ausflag regardless of whether the entry became a winner. Even the designers of the top 100 entries are not acknowledged by name on the Ausflag website - acknowledgement was limited to the finalists. In the last competition for professional designers Ausflag claim copyright ownership of some 3500 designs, despite having given nothing in exchange for such claimed copyright acquisition. That is why I have dedicated the copyright to the Australian People to celebrate the 95th Anniversary of ANZAC Day - and introduced the 10% GSC - Good Sport Contribution.

  15. What other good designs are available?
    Flags Australia - The Flag Society of Australia is an independant organization devoted to the study of flags, have a great article by Ralph Kelly on proposals for a New Australian Flag including illustrations of both Ausflag and independent designs - see www.flagsaustralia.com.au
    Fred Rieben - www.flagoz.com
    Yahoo Serious - www.yahooserious.com
    Brendan Jones - Reconciliation Flag - www.bc.id.au/flags
    John Williamson - True Blue Flag - www.johnwilliamson.com.au
    Russell Kennedy - Reconciliation Flag
    James Parbery - All Australian Flag - www.allaustralianflag.com.au


    James & Red Ensign version of All Australian Flag James' All Australian Flag
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USEFUL REFERENCES:-

AUSFLAG WEB SITE - www.ausflag.com.au - The search for a new Australian Flag.
Flag Society of Australia - www.flagsaustralia.com.au
FLAG & NATION - Australians and Their National Flags Since 1901 - by Dr Elizabeth Kwan - Senior Researcher at Parliament House Canberra - published 2006. The definitive book on the history of our flags in Australia.

IF YOU ASKED AUSTRALIANS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:-

What is the true national Aussie Identity shown by our national symbol - our flag??
1) Would Australians choose the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star or the Southern Cross for the place of honour - 'the Canton' in their flag?
2) Would Australians choose the red earth of 50,000 years of the Aboriginal spirit and shared blood of the Anzacs as the foundation of their flag?
3) Would Australians choose to honour the Rising Sun Spirit of the Anzacs since 1902 and the Aboriginal Sun as the Giver of life as the true Aussie Identity, including the Surf Life Savers and a symbol of hope as the heart of their flag to express Mateship & Kanyini?
4) IS OUR SIMPLE IDENTITY - I LOVE A SUNBURNT COUNTRY?
5) IS THE SUNBURNT FLAG A TRUE SYMBOL OF WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE LIVE? Does it include ALL Australians - the Anzacs, the Aboriginals, the Torres Strait Islanders, the Migrants, the Surf Lifesavers - our love for the Sunburnt Country and even a 'melted' Union Jack plus the soul of indigenous Australia?

Photo - Anne Morris, Stephen Berry, Deborah Ruiz Wall & Ali Golding Reconciliation Week 2006 with one of the first Sunburnt Flags ready for Aussies to fly for themselves, along with a range of other Sunburnt Flag products.

THE QUESTION WE ALL MIGHT ASK:-

WHAT IS THE SOUL OF THIS NATION?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAY - "PLACE - NOT RACE"

HOW ABOUT -

THE DREAMTIME FLAG

THE ANZAC FLAG

THE ALL AUSSIE FLAG

THE SUNBURNT FLAG - TO FINALLY SAY

"I love a Sunburnt Country - instead of - I love mother England??"

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Store Information


WEBSITE PURCHASES VIA CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL OR MAIL
PRICES INCLUDE GST, POSTAGE, PACKING & HANDLING

Initial Products 2006/11– Delivery 1 week (see Product page - 6 weeks for sewn flags)
Window/Fridge Decals, 3 stickers, lapel pins, table flags, hand/golf towels, printed trilobal & sewn outdoor flags.
Follow on Products – 2012 - embroided badges

POSSIBLE PRODUCTS SURVEY

  1. Consumers –productsurvey@sunburntflag.com.au
  2. Manufacturers –manufacturersurvey@sunburntflag.com.au
    Manufacturers are welcome to propose possible products to us.
Copyright Notes


* Copyright was dedicated on ANZAC Day 25th April 2010 at no cost to the Australian People.
© GSC - 10% Good Sport Contribution is requested to be added to the sale price of any products produced
and contributed to an Aussie charity or the Sunburnt Flag Thank You Fund.

The Sunburnt Flag web site has Sunburnt Flag Products.
As of ANZAC Day 2010 the copyright is vested in the Australia People and is subject to a GSC invitation - Good Sport Contribution.
Any person or entity (Australian or overseas) producing or selling items using the Sunburnt Flag design are asked to contribute to 10% GSC directed to an Aussie Charity in the name of the Sunburnt Flag or to the Sunburnt Flag Thank You Fund. Anyone/entity found not contributing their 10% GSC will be named and shamed so than can be boycotted for not being part of the concept of contribution to others.
Product Manufacturing note:- Products are sourced with Australian manufacturers where possible.
Products that are uneconomic to source within Australia are sourced overseas through Australian based companies with quality requirements and where possible Australian ownership or interest in the overseas manufacturing plants.
All Initial Launch products are manufactured in Australia except table flags and part of the golf towels.
Product Orders – On the Product Page of this web site you may:-
  1. Make Electronic Purchase on this web site charged to Credit Cards - Visa/Mastercard, PayPal or by EFT (Email us for account details). Prices include GST, Postage, Packing & Handling.
  2. Choose the payment option to Print out your order to fax or mail to us with cheque, money order to Sunburnt Flag or details to PO Box 1913 Neutral Bay NSW 2089.

Product Survey

  1. Would you like to buy a 1300 mm Sunburnt Flag Red Ensign for your boat?
  2. What other Sunburnt Flag products would you like to see in our product range?
Email us with your feedback to – productsurvey@sunburntflag.com.au

Payments

We will accept:-
  1. Credit Card or Paypal on the website.
  2. EFT - email us for account details to orders@sunburntflag.com.au
  3. Mail
  4. Orders below $20 in total may be made by cheque or money order to Sunburnt Flag PO Box 1913 NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089.
PRICES INCLUDE GST, POSTAGE, PACKING & HANDLING.
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Refund Policy

Following prior verification of a request for a refund or return of goods that has been authorised by ourselves, a full refund or replacement will be made if goods are returned unused and undamaged within 14 days of purchase excluding postage and packaging charge for original supply of the goods.
Final assessment will be made within 14 days of receipt of returned goods. We reserve the right to replace goods returned to us with like goods or make a refund at our discretion. Goods that are clearly defective will be replaced.
Purchasers may be offered other replacement goods within the Sunburnt Flag product range currently available if that is agreed to by the parties.
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Privacy Statement

Compliance in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 for small business entities.
We respect the privacy of data supplied to us.
All personal details supplied by purchasers of Sunburnt Flag products will be utilised for the sole purposes of :-
  1. Supplying Sunburnt Flag Products in accordance with the order placed.
  2. Processing a return of goods or refund request.
  3. Advising of new Sunburnt Flag products as they become available.
In particular no details will be provided or sold the third parties for the purpose of marketing products or services.
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